PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I love a good horror folk tale. As soon as I saw the trailer for Gwen, I knew I had to see it. The story was appealing and the imagery looked beautiful. Did it deliver?
This film was directed and written by William McGregor (The Missing TV). It stars Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything), Richard Harrington (Hinterland), Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Maleficent), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Justice League), and Mark Lewis Jones (Chernobyl).
Synopsis for GWEN
Gwen is a young girl desperately trying to hold her home together-struggling with her mother’s mysterious illness, her father’s absence and a ruthless mining company encroaching on their land. As a growing darkness begins to take.
Gwen definitely went over and beyond my expectations and the hauntingly eerie atmosphere reminded me of Robert Eggers’ The Witch. Fair warning, though: this is one disturbingly dark, twisted, and heartbreaking story. It pulled at my heartstrings and definitely messed with my head. It’s disturbing.
Not only is the story a walking nightmare, but the stunning cinematography and beautiful imagery are what really sells this film and will haunt your soul. It really helps set the dreadful tone and atmosphere for the film and captures the misery the characters are going through.
Speaking of characters, Gwen delivers some award-winning performances. Eleanor Worthington-Cox is utterly exquisite. She delivers a powerhouse and emotionally driven performance that will break your heart and win you over instantly. She’s a brilliant actress. Maxine Peake is always a delight and delivers a chilling performance that will shake you to your core! Their mother-daughter relationship is riveting and shows you how important family truly is.
Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this film and think others who fantasy dark folk horror tales will as well. It’s a crippling story that will haunt you long after the film is over. However, if you can get through the darkness, it is also beautifully told with killer performances throughout its runtime. Gwen is set to hit Theaters, VOD, and Digital HD on August 16, 2019 – prior to its release on the premium streaming platform, Shudder.
